An American Crime
Performance & Direction: An American Crime Review
Last updated: February 1, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is An American Crime (2007) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Crime is often anchored by its ensemble, and An American Crime features a noteworthy lineup led by Elliot Page . Supported by the likes of Catherine Keener and Hayley McFarland , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: An American Crime
Quick Plot Summary: An American Crime is a Crime, Drama, Horror film that dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: An American Crime
Ending Breakdown: An American Crime resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to crime resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the crime themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of An American Crime reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
An American Crime Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
An American Crime incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a crime, drama, horror film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film balances historical fidelity with cinematic storytelling. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
The production demonstrates respect for its source material, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: An American Crime adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch An American Crime?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Crime films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: An American Crime
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $2.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
An American Crime Budget
The estimated production budget for An American Crime is $2.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: An American Crime
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch An American Crime Online?
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Apple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeAn American Crime Parents Guide & Age Rating
2007 AdvisoryWondering about An American Crime age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of An American Crime is 97 minutes (1h 37m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.3/10, and global performance metrics, An American Crime is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2007 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is An American Crime worth watching?
An American Crime is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 7.3/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find An American Crime parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for An American Crime identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of An American Crime?
The total duration of An American Crime is 97 minutes, which is approximately 1h 37m long.
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Critic Reviews for An American Crime
Very good performances from Ellen Page and Catherine Keener for quite an empty movie. Could have been done much, much better with a proper direction and script.
Nice point of view of the torturers. It'd be easy to just show them as evil demons having fun doing bad things. I liked how the script portrays what they might had thought, sometimes very subtle. As the guy who had a crush on her and was rejected while she was still free, and later marked her. Paula who was pregnant and projected all her issues on Sylvia and wanted her to be seen as a prostitute. And Gertrudes herself who was old and ugly and probably was envy of Sylvia. Such possible motivations were shown without stimulating us to feel anger for them.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
